2011-11-11 | Assembly of Dust

View NotesAOD Fables Vol. 1

Jason Dave Diamond additions
Americana jamband moniker
Revamping and reinventing the catalog

Tavern Walker gets us going right out of the gate.  This song, and Filter, have taken on a furiously groovy new level with the addition of Jason Crosby.  While these Tavern Walker has been in the rotation for some time, in the newest AOD configuration, it has taken on a new level and frankly sounds the most comfortable it ever has.
Arkansas Doan is off the new album.  Adam tries some new accents in this live performance that take this tune forward.  With Jason Crosby as a able-bodied side-man and lead, Adam seems to find time to play more within the song and experiment.  This was one where the alchemist made gold.
Light Blue Lover is the oldest in the selection.  In the “faux acoustic” four-piece, AOD sounds incredibly at home.  This show is among their strongest in recent years.  Andy Herrick was still behind the kit for this one.
I flipped the order of the two tracks with the Phil Maher – the tenor saxophonist from Chicago.    The first, Filter, along with the aforementioned Tavern Walker, have enjoyed a rebirth within the current band configuration.  Filter has been a great vehicle for Adam to get his Grant Green on to be sure, but with Jason Crosby weaving in and out there is a new song here.  The saxophone helps the savvy listener realize, the more instruments that participate in the song the more interesting it becomes.  Check out the March 8, 2013 Tractor Tavern show, with the supporting band of the Blind Boys of Alabama – definitely honorable mention.
45 Degrees is nicely arranged and tenderly accented with saxophone.   This shows a made that can make it nice and spacious when required. 
High Brow is performed with Todd Isler – not Dave Diamond, but I challenge anyone anywhere to find a more furious guitar solo from Adam.  This take has the crunch that is sadly not often in the live renditions of this song.  I think Adam had just finished up some Ghosts of Jupiter shows – where he shreds a little harder and the size of the room is reasonable enough to turn it up.  These dynamics, this listener believes, significantly contributed to this massive performance.  Once again Jason Crosby plays the heavy metal equivalent of his instrument – this is Lee Michaels-style.  Massive tune.  Done right.  Check out this show for a couple of other gems.  The Edges that precedes is also excellent.
Telling Sue has benefitted from the ace-six-string violin playing of Jason Crosby as well.  The trading off of Adam and Jason has blossomed on this track. AOD has added another tranche of concert stalwarts beyond the Roads, Speculator, Valahalla.  
Miss Ohio takes it down a notch.  Reid owns the cover of this tune in a way btter than the original.  This song was made for him to cover.  See the Tin Angel recording from Philadelphia solo from May 13, 2010 I believe.  This performance is from a short runs of shows where AOD played some non-tradiitonal venues in the Northeast.  They were intimate theaters.  The crowds got some choice shows, including this rendition with just Reid and Jason.  Jason plays the house piano and finds a nice arrangement with Reid.  
Burned Down is a little looser perhaps in performance quality than some of the other tracks included.  It’s on purpose.  It’s a breather in a collection of songs set up like a set list.  What’s nice is the reggae lilt allows Jon Lecesse to step up and deliver some nice effects.  This is another song that is experiencing a nice rebirth in the new band configuration.  A tune sorely missed, that’s back with a vengeance.  Better than ever.
Westerly is a set closer to be sure, but the You Lay The Dust lyrical play makes this even better.  Reid Genauer plays the vocal lead with this repeating “you lay, you lay” and it really works.  Adam turns in a wailing solo and the band really builds a thick wall of dynamic groove.